“I love that ‘ting”

In case you missed it, the main reason I am here in the desert is to teach! Furthermore, my principal thinks it is absolutely imperative that Charlie helps me out – who can argue with that? I come therefore, armed with 12 years worth of Steiner class teaching experience, my never-to-be-forgotten time and experience teaching in the Kimberley (north-west Western Australia) AND Prince Charles. A pretty deadly (in a good way) combination if you ask me.

Now although I think the state education system has its place (in the bin), I am 100% sure that there is a lot a Steiner curriculum can offer in terms of a holistic, authentic, arts-based, spiritually underpinned, hands-on education. It has been a dream of mine to do exactly this for many, many years. At the same time, I am under no illusion that the idea of bringing Steiner to a remote community could go totally belly-up and that my dream could at any moment be shattered. Back I go with tail between my legs.

Thankfully my principal (brave) is prepared to take a punt on my ideas so I start small (we’ll get to the hairy armpit, tree-hugging bit later) – let’s try some finger knitting. To my amazement, the children were very receptive to it. They were patient, curious, willing to give it a go, and ultimately it was a successful introduction to a Steiner craft mainstay for the early years. Phew!

Next, I think to myself – hmmmm, I wonder if ‘circle’ time will work. This is a morning session of about 40 minutes whereby the children engage in movement, verse/poem recitation, language and number work using the body – all done in a – you guessed it – circle. A coming together if you like. Rather than the usual 30-40 minutes I think 15-20 minutes would be more than enough as an introduction to a modified morning routine. A little nervous, I ask the children to form a circle and I bring some activities to them. The outcome – amazing. Once again the children were receptive and seemed to enjoy the experience.

It gets better. The icing on the cake came yesterday. The children were ready to come into the class and I said; “now when we go inside children, I’d like you to stand in a circle because we’re going to be doing some more of that clapping, stamping and marching I showed you last time,” to which one adorable little girl replied as she jumped up, “Oh I love that ‘ting!” Cue Vetski’s heart melts and beams!

If I take away nothing else over the next couple of months it doesn’t matter because I have that! I have that gorgeous gem of a beaming, laughing, happy child participating with great joy in something so relatively simple yet obviously so meaningful and engaging. This little girl was enthralled for the entire 15 minutes and what she doesn’t realise is how enthralled I was because of her reaction! That’s teaching. That’s what it’s all about. These moments of pure bliss. Oh I must mention that unfortunately Charlie hasn’t quite got the idea of circle time and sees it as play time so while circle is going on, Charlie has to wait in another room – much to his annoyance and protest! Maybe one day he’ll be able to join in though not sure how he’ll handle clapping.